NAFA World Series

This Tournament will be governed by the current edition of the NAFA Official Playing Rules and this supplement

1. The team on top of the bracket is on the 3rd base dugout (unless occupied by team from previous game). Home team – Shall be determined by a coin toss prior to each game, except on the Championship game where the undefeated team will be home. There are NO longer any IF NECESSARY GAME IN NAFA. There is only a SINGLE Championship Game.
2. Line-up cards must identify a player by uniform number, position, first and last name, and we ask that all substitutes (with uniform number) be listed for record keeping only.
3. There is no Time Limit, and no Tie Breaker Rule (except in the 23U and in any (Gold) Pool play and consolation play).
4. Bat Rule: Each bat will be compression tested and, if passed, then a tampered proof NAFA sticker will be placed on the bat. If a bat is used without a NAFA sticker on it, the batter will be called out and all play reverts back.
5. The pool play seeding will use, 1) Record, 2) Head-to-Head, 3) Runs Allowed, 4) Runs Scored, 5) Run Differential (7 max) including all games. If still tied, a coin flip will determine the higher seed.
6. Teams may utilize a Designated Player (DP), Extra Hitter (EH) and Defensive Specialist (DS). These players must be listed on the official line-up card and submitted to the Home Plate Umpire. Players designated as the DP/EH or DS can be freely substituted on defense; however, the umpire must be notified of the changes. These changes do not count towards a player’s re-entry. The DS must be listed in the SHADED AREA of the lineup card.
7. A Designated Runner (DR) will be allowed in all Divisions and can run for anyone in the lineup, but can only be used once per inning. The DR must be designated at the bottom of the lineup sheet at the beginning of the game and marked as DR. The DR can enter into the lineup; however the team forfeits the DR for the remainder of the game. A Courtesy Runner (CR) will be allowed for the catcher only with two outs in the inning and must be the last out.
8. Re-Entry – Only starting players, to include, the DP, EH, and DS may leave the game and re-enter one time. Substitute players may not leave the game and re-enter. Note: If a substitute fails to report, there is no penalty and is considered to be in the game when he enters the batter’s box, replaces a runner or takes a defensive position.
9. Pitching – The pitcher must start with one foot on the pitching plate, and the pitcher may lift his foot above the pitching plate as long as he sets it down on the pitcher’s plate prior to the release of the ball. The Pitcher may leap as long as there is no re-plant prior to the release of the pitch. The penalty for an illegal pitch is ONLY a ball on the batter, no runners are forced to advance.
10. Leading Off – The base runner may not leave until the pitcher releases the ball. Penalty – No Pitch, Runner called out.
11. Game Time – If a team is not present at their scheduled game time/field or they do not have a sufficient number or players (eight) to start the game, the BASE Umpire will immediately notify the Tournament UIC or Tournament Director.
12. Short-handed Rule – A team may play short-handed, 8 players, to start the game or due to an injury. A team cannot play short-handed if there was an ejection. If playing “short-handed”, an out will be recorded on the ninth spot of the batting order or when the person who left the game is due at bat. A team must have at least eight players to start and finish the game.
13. Regulation game – A regulation game shall consist of seven innings. A full seven innings need not be played if the team second at bat (home team) scores more runs in six or one-half innings. (Exception- Run Ahead Rule). A game that is tied at the end of seven innings shall be continued until one team scores more runs than the other team at the end of an inning, with the exception of Pool Play games where they can end in a tie.
14. Run Ahead Rule – A team leading by 10 runs after 4 innings or 7 runs after five innings, or one run after seven or more innings shall be declared the winner, including the Championship game.
15. Uniforms/Protective Gear – All players shall properly wear uniforms that are like in color and style, with a “whole number” on the back of the uniform shirts. No players on the same team may wear identical numbers. Batters, On-deck Batters, and Runners must wear a double flap batting helmet. The on-deck batter can stand behind the batter for safety purposes.
16. Protest – Should a protest arise, the game will be immediately halted, and the BASE Umpire will immediately notify the Tournament UIC or Tournament Director. The PLATE Umpire will remain on the field. All protests must be made in accordance with NAFA rules. A $50.00 (cash) fee is required for any rule interpretation protest. The fee will be refunded if the protest is found to be valid. The Tournament Director and/or UIC will handle protests on site.
17. Ejections – If a Player is ejected from a game, the PLATE umpire will record the player’s name and report the incident to the Tournament UIC and Tournament Director at the conclusion of the game. If ejected in the 6th or 7th inning, the player is not eligible for the next game. If the ejection is prior to the 6th inning, the player is allowed to play in the next game unless it was flagrant, and the Tournament Staff Determines the player has an additional penalty.

The tournament director reserves the right to change field numbers and game times and to restrict a player from pitching.

This Tournament will be governed by the current edition of the NAFA Official Playing Rules and this supplement.
 

1. Players must check-in and show proof of age at least 45 minutes prior to their first scheduled game. Players may turn the legal age at any time during this calendar year to be eligible and may pitch. Exception: Teams may play at one time 3 players 3 years younger that cannot pitch.
2. Bat Compression Testing & Approved Bats. Each Bat must be examined and compression tested and then a NAFA Staff will affix a current “NAFA approved Bat Stamp” on the bat. If it is discovered that a batter has completed his turn at bat with a bat that has not been tested (and stickered), the batter will be called out, runners return to the base occupied at the time of pitch, and all outs made will stand. Helmets must be worn by the Batter, the on-deck Batter, and all base runners.
3. For pool play the Home team shall be determined by a coin toss prior to each game by a NAFA Representative at the bracket board. For bracket play, the higher seed will be home team. If both teams are seeded the same, a coin flip will determine home team. The tournament will provide the Official Line-up cards and game balls for all games. Line-up cards submitted to the Home Plate Umpire must contain the starting player’s last name, first name, uniform number and fielding position, and all available substitutes. Teams listed on the top of the bracket or listed first in the pool games will take the 3rd base dugout unless they stay for back-to-back games, then they may stay.
4. A double first base safety bag shall be used to minimize collisions between the 1st baseman and the batter/baserunner and treated as one big bag for both offense and defense to use except on the first play at 1st base on the batter/baserunner when the ball is fielded from the fair part of the infield, then the runner shall use the orange bag and the defense shall use the white bag. If the offense uses the white bag and does not interfere then it is a live ball appeal play by the defense and must be made before the batter/baserunner returns to either bag. If the batter/baserunner uses the white bag and interferes then it is a dead ball, and he is out, and runners return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
5. Teams may utilize the Designated Player (DP), Extra Hitter (EH) and Defensive Specialist (DS), however can only bat 10 batters. These players must be listed on the official line-up card and submitted to the Home Plate Umpire. Players listed as the DP, EH or DS can be freely substituted on defense; however, the umpire must be notified of the changes. These changes do not count towards a player's re-entry. The DS must be listed in the shaded area of the lineup card. The DS can be moved into the batting order but that will use their re-entry. The team can add a substitute into the vacated DS slot at that time, otherwise they lose the DS slot for the remainder of the game.
6. Courtesy Runners / Designated Runner (DR) – 2 courtesy runners may be used for anyone per inning. The Courtesy Runner must be the person farthest away in the lineup which is most often “the last out.” A DR, a player not in the game, can run one time an inning for anyone. There are no additional courtesy runners solely for pitchers and catchers.
7. In 60-Over, 65-Over and 70-over only, as an option a 4th outfielder may be used and will take the place of the EH or the DS (teams can only bat a maximum of 10 batters), but not a 5th infielder so that outfielder must be at least 20 feet off the dirt on a normally cut infield at the umpire’s discretion based on where the other 3 outfielders start on the play so it looks consistent.
8. Any team leading by 10 runs after 4 innings, or 7 runs after 5 innings (or 6 innings) shall be declared the winner, including the Championship game. No new inning will start after 90 minutes in pool play and 1 hour 45 minutes in bracket play, Championship games will not have a time limit; games will use the International Tie-Breaker rule, to start the 8th inning or the next new inning after time has expired.
9. Teams are required to have nine players (but may use a DS and/or an Extra Hitter (10)); however, a team may start/end a game with eight players (Short-1 handed Rule). If a team starts/ends a game with eight players, an out shall be recorded each time the ninth batting position is due to bat. Note: A team may not play “Short-handed as a result of an ejection. The game will end in forfeit. Participants ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, prior to the 6th inning of the game are only ejected for the remainder of that current game. Participants ejected in, or after, the 6th inning, will be ineligible to participate in their team’s next scheduled game. Re-Entry- Only the Starting players, to include the DP, DS, and EH may leave the game and re-enter (one time). Substitute players may not leave the game and then re-enter.
10. The Pitcher must start with one foot on the pitching plate. The penalty for any pitching infraction is a delayed dead ball (illegal pitch), the offense can choose the result of the play or a ball awarded to the batter, and there is no advancement of runners, unless it is “Ball Four.”
11. Protests- All protests must be made in accordance with NAFA rules prior to the next pitch and will be adjudicated under the direction of the Tournament Director. All protests must be made in accordance with NAFA rules. A $50 (cash) fee is required for any rule interpretation protest.

The tournament director reserves the right to shorten, change field numbers and game times as the need may arise and to restrict a player from pitching and or playing in a specific age group.